The mournful playing of taps blared from the loud speakers, echoing against
the buildings of a vacant Grantsville. "People have a lot of places to go this
weekend. They're very busy," said a member of the Lady's Auxiliary. "Do
they have civics classes to remind us about the price of freedom?" asked
another, noting the collective memory of America seems short-term.

Ms. Yoak's head was bowed in silence during much of the ceremony, likely
remembering the crucial times when the survival of the country was much in
doubt, and those men who extraordinarily left their mountain homes in great
numbers to protect and defend a way of life that many take for granted.

She certainly was remembering her brother Jack, who made the leap from a
youthful country boy to a man soldier on the fields of battle in that great
war.